Who Needs to Take COMPASS

All individuals applying for admission to Gateway's postsecondary educational programs must take a mandatory placement assessment to assist in their appropriate placement in coursework. All applicants must meet the current placement test requirements. Applicants meeting one of the following conditions may be exempt from placement testing, either in whole or in part, for admission to a program of study:

The applicant has ACT, SAT, COMPASS, ASSET, or Accuplacer scores in the required testing areas that are no more than three years old. If the assessment was taken at another college, an official score report must be received before the exemption from testing can be granted. Applicants will be placed in courses according to the submitted test results. Official test score reports are those that come directly from the testing organization or the school's testing printout. Hand written copies are not accepted.

The applicant has successfully completed related Gateway postsecondary coursework or related transferable college coursework as demonstrated on an official transcript that fulfills the program requirement/s/ with a grade >C= or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Transfer credits on a transcript do not waive the placement test. Testing may be waived based on the original college's transcript.

Upon receipt of an official transcript from the degree-granting college, applicants who have earned an AAS degree or higher will not be required to test for program admission. However, placement testing may be necessary based on required course prerequisites within the Gateway degree program. Consult with your program counselor for clarification of prerequisites for specific courses.

Applicants who have maintained academic skills in reading, writing, and math through work experience or other means outside of successful course completion that is documented through consultation with the program's counselor may be eligible for a waiver.

Individuals not seeking program admission who wish to take a college course or courses may be required to take a placement test for classes with a placement score prerequisite.